Living Fearlessly.

Alas. The school year is here. And as we all know, the grind will begin shortly. I’m 100% for it. However, I aspire to grind smarter not harder. This can easily be achieved by amping up your organization skills. So here’s some tips to make your school year flow a little more smoothly.

1) Purchase a planner.

Please. If you have not already purchased one, do it now. By any means necessary (a little hyperbolic, I know). It doesn’t have to be expensive as long as it does its job. Writing your tasks down will decrease your chance of forgetting and allow you to schedule time to complete your assignments, extracurriculars, and job. At the beginning of the semester I write down my test dates, major assigment due dates, and professors’ office hours. I have the same planner as last year: The Simplified Planner by Emily Ley ($58). Check out my favorite planners post for more suggestions!

It’s extremely difficult to get things done in a messy environment. By implementing a schedule for cleaning you ensure a perpetually clean living space. Tasks don’t have to be more than 15-30 minutes a day. Overall, a clean area is less stressful and keeps your mental state peaceful during an stressful semester. Here’s a copy of mine. It consists of daily, weekly, and monthly tasks. 🙂

3) Download a password saver.

I cannot recall how much time I’ve wasted trying to remember passwords to my various accounts. Having to retrieve or reset your password wastes time and decreases efficiency. Save your passwords in your browser. For extra back-up use LastPass, a secure password manager. (I’ve done research & it’s very safe).

4) Organize your courses.

After my first two years I realized that I needed a more efficient way to keep track of all my classes. After speaking with my best friend, I decided on this method of organization: I have 1 binder that I carry with me on campus. That binder has sections for every class. However, I only take the stuff I need for the week in the large binder to ensure my bag doesn’t get too heavy. At the end of the week, I place the papers/notes back into their individual binders that are organized by subject. I used some cute binder covers to make them look more appealing!

5) Create a study plan.

One of my biggest mistakes in the past was going to study without a plan. I would aimlessly look over notes from various areas with no specific plan of action. Creating a study plan of things you want to accomplish ensures that you complete tasks. For example, Monday: finish all the practice problems from Chapters 11-13, and memorize the vocabulary. Structure your review for the week and prevent yourself from falling behind 🙂 At my university you can rent out study rooms. You can even rent out rooms days before. It’s convenient because you’ll never have to search for a spot in the library. I rent mine out at the same time regularly so that I can get into the habit of studying.

6) Use a white board.

This is key especially if you’re a science major. I used to use pages of notebook paper on practice problems. Instead, I bought a mini white board where I can do endless problems without wasting paper. This tactic helped me memorize a ton of medical terminology in a span of 4 days this summer! I often pretend to reteach the information I learned using my whiteboard. As an active form of learning, it is extremely effective.

I hope these tips were helpful! If y’all have any suggestions leave them in the comments below 🙂

Nineteen has always seemed like an underwhelming age to me. It isn’t a number that rings milestones like being able to drive, becoming an adult, or being able to legally drink. However, I find that I’ve never felt happier in my life to be this age.

This past year has allowed me to grow in so many different ways. Despite not reaching any societal milestones, I’ve reached so many of my own. And I’m currently in a state of gratitude.

It’s my goal this next year to remain grateful. Thankful for the challenges and obstacles. Grateful for the failures and successes. Grateful for the times where I feel empowered or the times when I feel small. Grateful for the bleak low points and for the exhilarating peaks.

I’m 19 years and counting. To some I may be young and to others I may be old. I have many lessons to learn and wisdom to gain. Nonetheless, I’ve never felt more confident or content. My whole life is ahead of me. It’s time to take on the world.

Anyone who knows me knows that I love Beyonce. So when Formation comes on, you better believe I’m gonna bust out into the full choreo on sight. Most of y’all know one of the recurring lines of the song is “cause I slay.” Long before that song, “slay” had become the upmost form of a compliment. Overused? Yes. Used incorrectly? Absolutely. Nonetheless, it is a word that denotes success, empowerment, and desirability.

So while reflecting this week I came to wonder…why does everybody have to slay in the same way? There seems to be this mindset that if someone isn’t conforming to your own preconceived notion of beauty, style, behavior, or “success” then they’re not worth anything. To me, this has bred a culture of unoriginality- one that lacks authenticity and promotes negativity.

So often I hear women denouncing and devaluing women who simply choose to prioritize different things or look a different way. So much so, that I’ve found myself trying to appease the naysayers. However, constantly trying to mold into this unnatural version of myself has left me unfulfilled. I’ve found that all of the little idiosyncrasies that I’ve tried to stifle are actually my redeeming qualities. And it’s liberating. No longer am I aspiring to be a carbon copy of someone else. Women like Tracee Ellis Ross are a reminder that our quirks are what make us appealing. So to the women who feel inadequate in a world that often promotes compliance- guess what?

Whether you want to beat your face or wear minimal makeup, dress up or dress down, be the center of attention or play a role behind the scenes, and be classy or be goofy – all of these things are valuable. Formulate the best version of yourself. Be distinctive. Keep pushing and grinding while maintaining your individuality. What others may call weird…I call innovative.

We can all slay in our own lanes.

Have any of y’all ever felt pressured to meet unrealistic standards? #ShareYourStance

XOXO

-Adeyinka

“It was when I realized I needed to stop trying to be somebody else and be myself, I actually started to own, accept, and love what I had.”

Undecided. That’s where I always found myself during deep conversations or discussions about controversial issues. I’d like to think of myself as a very impartial person. When I listen to people debate, it’s very easy for me to understand both sides of the argument. However, this always left me in a boat of uncertainty. Uncertain what I stood for, what I wanted, or what I did not want. I found myself not speaking up in small situations and soon came to realize my neutrality wasn’t due to uncertainty, it was a product of fear.

I was afraid my opinions would lead to a confrontation. I was afraid to go against the grain and stand out. I was afraid of seeming too outspoken, opinionated, or aggressive. I was afraid of being less likeable– which is crazy to me now.

What makes most of the people that I admire likeable are their opinions. Women like Oprah, Michelle Obama, and Malala Yousafzai have unwavering confidence in expressing their opinions and demanding to be heard. There’s something so remarkable about the sparkle in their eyes when they speak on their passions. They are able to use their platforms to promote growth and change, because they stand for something. So how can I make a difference if I am afraid to speak up and speak out? That’s easy, I can’t. Becoming more outspoken is inevitable. So this year I’ve vowed to be unapologetic. (one of my fave RiRi albums btw). And if that makes some people uncomfortable…well they can stay mad.

*flips hair*

I’m dedicated to Living Fearlessly and I plan on using my platform to speak out on things that are most important to me. Whether it’s healthy living, politics, or a rare disease I challenge you all to do your research, present your ideas, and let your voice be heard!

Wow. The past month has been a whirlwind. Not just academically, but also socially and emotionally. First of all, I want to apologize for going MIA for a while. But September has given me a real taste of adulthood. Balancing school, work, friends, and clubs has truly been a test for me. And although it might have been ugly and stressful – I’ve gotten through it. I’m ready to start fresh this month. New layout, new posts, and a new perspective.

On another note, I had the pleasure of attending the Women at Heart Conference recently and listen to the wonderful keynote speaker, Valorie Burton:

I’ve recently began a very fulfilling pastime: journaling. I was inspired to start journaling after reading Vanessa Michele’s post here. She made a lot of great suggestions and specifically gave me the idea to start a prayer journal, which I thought was amazing!!! Her lovely lifestyle blog is full of food, inspiration, and hair posts- you should definitely check it out. 🙂 A lot of my friends journal as well so I decided to give it a try. I found 3/4 of these journals at Marshall’s by their recommendation. After doing it only briefly, I’m already in love. It’s a great way for me to get my thoughts out and stay sane during the oh-so- stressful moments. So I thought I’d share with you all some ideas for you to journal your lives away as well.

I thought I’d share with you all a product that has recently become one of my staples. As most of you all know, I have chronic dry skin. So even though I use a tinted moisturizer- my skin can end up looking a bit ashy by the end of the day. After becoming fed up with the baby powder look I was sporting, I decided to look for a spray to refresh my skin throughout the day. After doing research, I went into Ulta initially set on the Dermalogica Ultra Calming Mist. However I stumbled across something different and decided to try it! I have to admit that the packaging is what caught my eye initially. I mean- it’s gorgeous.

The moment that I met with Mrs. Minnie Bommer I was captivated. She had a certain charm and confidence that could light up an entire room. And although she was polite, it was clear that she was a woman who wasn’t afraid to go against the grain for what she believed in – someone who didn’t take no as an answer. I just knew after speaking with her that I HAD to interview her. She’s the epitome of what I want to be – a leader, philanthropist, and a kind soul.

If you didn’t know already, I celebrated my 18th birthday last week. It was a lot of fun – from spending time with family, traveling, and being surrounded by great friends. I’m honestly so blessed and grateful. One of the best parts was getting to do a photoshoot with the wonderful photographer (and great friend) : Faith Holmes. Her Instagram account is: @faithfilledframes. She is so talented and the pictures came out great. I thought I’d share some of the photos with you all!

Part 1: West Columbia

Dress: Lulu’s/ Necklace: Forever 21

Part 2: Down by the River

Hat: Forever 21/ Top: Brandy Melville/ Pants: Charlotte Russe

I hope y’all enjoyed the pictures! I am so blessed to have lived another year on this earth, and I can’t wait to grow older and gain wisdom. When are y’all’s birthdays? What’s your favorite way to spend your birthday?

xoxo

-Adeyinka

It is good to have an end to journey toward, but it is the journey that matters in the end.

I hope your week has gone well. With celebrating my own and several friends’ birthdays and moving back into my dorm I’ve been quite occupied. But I’m never too busy to get a post out there for y’all. The WiFi in my dorm was acting up last night and I was praying that I would be able to get this #SkinCareSunday post out. But it’s working now so all is well 🙂

Summer is a time where we like to show off our feet in cute sandals and flip-flops. But having unkept feet can take away from our ever so cute footwear. After playing soccer and doing ballet for several years my feet had taken quite a toll. But over the past couple years I’ve been able to rehabilitate my formerly busted feet. So although summer is coming to an end, I thought I’d share with you my footcare routine. Let’s get started!